Comets looking for revenge against rival Berwick

And fans of the Red and White won’t be left wondering long about just how good their Comets will be.

Tonight at Crestwood High, the Comets embark on their journey toward what is hoped to be a district championship season against an all-too-familiar foe: Berwick.

Although the two teams have been meeting in their season-opener for each of the past seven years, their showdown in Berwick in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs last November left players, coaches and fans from both teams wanting for more from these two rivals.

After Berwick laid a 41-7 whipping on the Comets in Week 1 last season, Crestwood showed it would be no pushover in the district semifinals. Riding the crest of a nine-game winning streak, the Comets went toe-to-toe with George Curry’s favored Bulldogs for four quarters in the Week 11 rematch, but Berwick was able to hold on for a 14-13 win en route to an eventual District 2 Class 3A championship and a deep push into the state playoffs.

“It’s starting to seem like (a rivalry),” Crestwood head coach Greg Myers said during the preseason. “We’re not a pushover. We’re right up there with them. I’ll put our program up against theirs – current – any day. Of course, they’ve got the history, we do not. But I think it’s something that could really develop down the road into a really nice rivalry.”

For that to happen, the Comets will need to step up against the Bulldogs – starting with tonight’s home opener.

“It would be huge for the program, great for the community,” Myers said about a win this evening against legendary head coach George Curry and his Bulldogs. “This community has really embraced the success of our football program. They support us, and I think they’ll be here behind us.

“It’s a big game, but it’s also our first game,” the ninth-year head coach stressed. “It’s always good to get your season started off on the right path and get a little bit of momentum and confidence built up going into Abington Heights in Week 2. It could go either way for us, but it would be very nice for everyone involved to start off 1-0.”

The Comets will be facing a team that won its first 14 ballgames last season before falling to Archbishop Wood 42-14 in the PIAA Eastern Final. Although quarterback C.J. Curry, running back Dain Kowalski and a host of solid players have graduated from that team, and there are some who feel Berwick will be down this fall, Myers isn’t buying it.

“People say they lost a lot,” stated Myers, who saw the Dawgs play twice in the preseason. “They’re a good team. At times I’m not sure if they’re getting enough credit. They lost some very good football players, but I also think they’ve got some very good football players replacing them, they just might be young.

“I’m sure you’re going to be talking about them in Week 11.”

Senior Dallas Arner and sophomore Mike Force were in a battle for the starting quarterback job in the preseason, although it appears Force won that and will start under center tonight, wearing the familier No. 7 Curry awards to his starting quarterback. All but one starter returns on the offensive line, as does 6-3 wideout Andrew Force (29 receptions, 7 TDs last season).

“They’re big up front, they’ve got an inexperienced quarterback but he’s got a very good arm. He’s just going to get better,” Myers said. “I think I saw that from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage. They’ve got a receiver in Andrew Force who I think is one of the best in District 2 if not the best. They’ve had some success early on getting him the football in the scrimmages, and he’s made some great plays. They’re using four guys to run the football.”

Nick Talanca, Nate Maczuga and DeQuan Hellenthall are all seeing action at running back. Chase Petty, Kyle Roberts and Devonte Powell were in a battle for fullback duties.

“We’ve got to be prepared, especially defensively for all their formations and shifts,” Myers said. “I think we have to caution ourselves and worry about the big plays. I think this game could come down to a big play, especially early on, trying to sway confidence early.”

On defense, Zach Andress is back to lead a strong linebacking corps. However, the Bulldogs must replace their entire starting secondary. Andrew Force is set to step in at one safety spot. Olivia Seely returns at kicker after making 46 extra points and a field goal last season.

The Comets have plenty of firepower returning to their sideline, led by three-year starting quarterback Jay Popson and four-year starting running back-linebacker Frank Aigeldinger.

Popson still remembers last year’s playoff loss to the Bulldogs, when his fourth-down pass to Lance Blass fell incomplete in the end zone in the closing seconds. Although Crestwood fans felt Blass was interfered with, no call was made.

“I’m glad we’re starting with them,” Popson said during the preseason. “We have a lot to pay back. We are ready to go after them.”

Popson is coming off a junior season in which he threw for 679 yards and four scores, and ran for 695 and 13 touchdowns in the single-wing offense. Aigeldinger racked up 1,517 yards and 17 scores, wingback Tanner Kahlau added 741 yards and nine touchdowns, and running back Matt Bobeck chipped in 309 yards and four scores while spelling Aigeldinger.

Popson’s targets in the passing game are Connor Sheloski (12-251, 3 TDs) and Blass.

Aigeldinger and Bobeck lead the defensive charge for a team that allowed just 13 points per game last season – including three shutouts and a paltry 7 ppg average after Week 4.

One of Crestwood’s biggest weapons is 6-foot-3 senior placekicker-punter George Gendler, who has one of the strongest legs in the entire district.

“It’s going to be a challenge. We’re going to be in for a fight,” Myers said. “We’re going to have to play our A-game, we’re going to have to be focused, and we’re going to need to expect to play four quarters.”

Popson said the Comets and their fans are ready to go.

“I’m excited and the whole town is excited,” he said. “The student section is ready to go.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Crestwood High School Stadium. The game will be shown live on FOX 56 TV. The game will air on Channel 53 on Dish and DirectTV, and on My Network TV WQMY on cable.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.